Jan Brandt (born Peters) is an engineer with over 20 years’ experience. Co-owner of 040 audio, alongside Eike Brameier, the pair supply the audio equipment for Jan’s current client, Max Mutzke. This year, they upgraded their setup by adding KLANG:vokal, adding the immersive monitor mix processor to their Yamaha DM7 Compact
Since 2018, Jan has toured with German singer-songwriter and TV personality Max Mutzke. Mutzke rose to fame after winning TV total’s SSDSGPS in 2004 and has since delivered numerous chart-topping hits, including Eurovision Song Contest performances. For the latest tour, Jan was looking for a way to elevate the band’s monitor mixes and KLANG had the perfect solution.
“I introduced the band to KLANG, and they were all fascinated by the possibilities,” Brandt recalled. “We’d worked hard on the monitor mixes, and they were sounding great, but it felt like KLANG was the next big upgrade achieving something no other products could do. After testing a demo, the improvement was undeniable, so we purchased a KLANG:vokal system.”
On a busy tour, in-depth technical discussion can be challenging. But with virtual soundcheck, Brandt easily showcased KLANG’s benefits, without the need for complex explanations. This came in handy in encouraging the band to try something new.
“The band were all open to explore new technical options, so whenever we had a free moment, I would invite a musician to experiment with the virtual soundcheck,” Brandt continued. “We listened together, playing with placement and from this, I created individual mixes for the band. Standing together at the desk, they were able to easily fine-tune their mix, just with their finger on my tablet.”
Once each musician’s mix was fine-tuned, Brandt maintained complete control. Each musician took some different improvements from the experience, but when working with the brass players, Jan noticed the benefits of KLANG were even more striking.
Brass musicians, especially trumpet players create the tone of their instrument in their mouths, so the sound of their instrument will be centrally present for them, as Brandt explains. “The band’s trumpet player happens to be Max’s brother, Menzel Mutzke, who is a very accomplished player,” he said. “For him KLANG was a game changer, and the best in-ear monitoring experience he has ever had. We positioned his trumpet front and centre, then positioned the other instruments to give him a much better experience and more space in his mix.”
For 040 audio, integrating KLANG:vokal has been a major enhancement, elevating the experience for every artist they support. It is a compact solution that has opened up many possibilities for the company, as Jan concluded.
“KLANG has been a fantastic upgrade. Paired with our compact monitor desk, it’s the perfect setup; powerful, efficient and reliable,” he said. “It has taken our mixes to the next level, and we’re already using it with our other clients. The vokal+ upgrades are definitely interesting too, if there is an opportunity to do more, we will always use it! The possibilities are truly exciting!”
